"Sir! Our deepest apology. The room that you booked for the meeting has got some problems. The lights and AC are not working properly. Could you please use the common hall for a while as we fix the issue?" The manager asked Viraj while looking at the other people accompanying him.

Viraj had accepted Nupur's father's proposal to meet Nupur in Taj hotel. In order to save time, he decided to tag along a team of wedding planners to help them in finalizing the minute details of the wedding.

"Aren't there any other rooms available?" He asked.

"Some are under renovation while others are all occupied for today. It is Sunday, that is why." The manager replied.

"Okay. We'll use the common hall." He nodded in order to not waste any more time and followed the manager's lead. Nupur and the three women followed the men as well.

All of them sat at one of the corner seating arrangements in order to have some privacy. After ordering the general drinks, the planning team initiated the conversation.

"Where do you want the wedding to be held, ma'am?" One of the women asked Nupur as Viraj scrolled through the notifications on his phone.

Nupur glanced at Viraj for some sort of confirmation, but her heart sank when she saw him not even paying attention to the conversation.

"Viraj..." She called him gently.

He looked up from his phone and gave her a curious look. He had expected her to do all the talking regarding the wedding planning. He had no interest in it. He just came here to fulfil his duty as a good fiance.

"Is there any specific venue you want to suggest?" She asked softly.

"Choose whatever you want, Nupur." He said and turned to look at his phone again.

Sighing in defeat, Nupur began discussing the topics with the planners.

The waiter placed the drinks in front of each of them. Viraj took his glass and faced straight to take a sip. He had almost gulped when his eyes recognized a specific person in the hall.

'What is she doing here?' He wondered as he looked at Sneha who was sitting at the other corner, exactly behind Nupur.

His gaze fell on her posture which was relaxed yet tensed. She was smiling as she listened to her company. His eyes automatically narrowed when he realized that her company was a man...a good looking man.

Nupur would have noticed his change in attitude if only she wasn't too involved in the discussion with the planners.

His eyes remained fixed on Sneha and he desperately wanted to know who this man was and why she was here with him.

The unknown man said something to which Sneha smiled with a blush. He couldn't take this anxiety anymore. He needed to know who he was. It was sure to him that he wasn't her brother because she wouldn't be blushing like that. Neither was he her friend because then they wouldn't have met at a luxurious hotel such as Taj.

'Is he...her boyfriend?' He wondered and the mere thought made him feel irritated.

He saw how she read the menu and said something to the man. The other guy nodded with a smile and then told something to the waiter.

He hated this even more.

No other man should be taking care of her. He reasoned.

When he couldn't sate the curiosity anymore and neither were they leaving, he decided to meet her in solitude to get answers to his questions. He didn't want to create any drama by straightaway asking her in front of the man. What if, he was someone important to her in the family and he'd insult her unintentionally.

Gesturing to the passing waiter who was holding a tray full of filled wine glasses, he gave his direction. He wrote his message on his phone and showed it to the waiter.

It caught Nupur's attention too and she wondered what Viraj was up to. However, the next question by the planners occupied her attention again.

'Throw some wine accidentally on that girl in the blue coloured suit. She is sitting exactly in front of me in the corner with a man. Make sure you don't hurt her. You'll be paid accordingly.' He had written.

The waiter understood Viraj's intention and nodded. He was a known personality here, after all.

"Uhh...Viraj. They are asking about the message we should write for the guests on the wedding card." Nupur asked.

He looked at her and the frustration was clear on his face. Nupur wondered what made him so edgy suddenly.

"Write whatever you want." He said and shifted his gaze again on Sneha.

Curiously, Nupur followed his gaze and turned around. Her breath hitched and her eyes narrowed when she saw Sneha in the same hall.

'What is she doing here?' She wondered bitterly. The fact that Viraj was looking at her as well was not solving the case either.

"Ma'am, what kind of message do you want?" The planner called for her attention and she turned to face them again.

Viraj, however, ignored that Nupur had seen him look at Sneha. He wasn't afraid of her...especially, not now.

"Oh my..." Nupur heard Sneha's shrill voice and she turned around to face her again.

The waiter was apologizing as he tried to pass her some tissues. The glasses had broken, but luckily none had hurt her in any way. Automatically, Nupur turned to look at Viraj's reaction, and instead of finding concern in his eyes, he had a flat look...as if he was anticipating it.

Her doubts on him further increased when he stood from his chair and excused himself.

"I'll be back." He announced to them and walked in the same direction in which Sneha went.

'Does he...really...like her?' She wondered and the mere thought made her sad and mad at the same time.

The planners however didn't let her overthink the matter and began discussing the theme. She had lost interest in it now, though.

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Viraj walked casually towards the ladies' washroom and stood outside the door. He waited patiently for her to exit even though he was burning from inside to get the answers quickly.

Finally, his wait was over and the soft click of the door caught his attention. He saw her walking out while looking at her watch. She was yet to notice him and he didn't even attempt to move from her way as she walked exactly in his direction.

Her small body collided with his and he looked at her with an emotionless face. The fear of being seen by him was evident in her expressive eyes.

"V.Viraj?" He heard her stutter his name.

"Who is he?" He asked, not caring to explain his unannounced visit. He just needed his answers right now. And, she'd better not say that he is her boyfriend, he concluded.

"What? Who?" She asked in confusion.

'Is she playing with me!' He thought angrily.

"The man you were sitting with, outside." He nonetheless elaborated.

Sneha gulped in fear before answering him.

"Uhh...he is my...friend. Why... are you here?" She asked. But, he ignored her question. He was here for answers, not the other way around, he reasoned.

"What friend?" He asked and saw her narrow her brows.

"Family...friend. I...should go." She said slowly and took a step away from him. He wasn't satisfied though. He could easily read that she was lying or partially telling the truth. One doesn't smile or blush at a family friend!

"Tell me the truth or I will go and ask him myself." He said and the anger was clear in his tone.

Sneha turned to face him again. She was beyond confused now.

"I am not lying! He is a family friend. He is my father's friend's relative." She explained.

"Why are you seeing him here then?" He asked.

She took a deep breath and narrowed her gaze at him again.

"Why...do you want to know this?" She asked.

"Just answer me." He almost seethed.

He noticed her scratching her forehead with a clear frown.

"Viraj...I don't understand why you are asking me...this." She stated in an unsure voice.

He closed his eyes momentarily to swallow the anger before he would do something he might regret later. He was hating her continuous attempts in dodging his questions.

"Fine. I'll ask him." He warned and started walking in the direction of the hall.

"No! Wait!" She frantically called for him.

And he did.

Turning around to face her, he raised a brow so as to encourage her to answer.

He heard her sigh.

'What is she so scared of?' He wondered.

"It is a marriage prospect."

"A what?" He asked in a flat tone.

"We are getting to know each other to see if we find each other compatible for marriage." She elaborated awkwardly.

He clenched his fist tighter when her words processed in his mind. It sounded stupid to him.

"I...should go now." She repeated and almost turned when he asked again.

"What is your answer?" He asked.

He saw her look at him, straight into the eyes...something she rarely did.

"I don't understand why you are asking me this but, I am really not comfortable in answering this to you. I must go now." She answered in a strict tone and turned around again.

Engulfed by a strange feeling, he matched her pace and held her wrist boldly. Instantly, she faced him and tried to set herself free.

"What are you doing?" She asked in a firm scolding tone.

"What is your answer?" He repeated while ignoring her plea. He hated being ignored.

"Leave my hand." Sneha strictly repeated while looking at his hold on her wrist with distaste.

"I will if you'll say 'no' to him." He ordered confidently and he was serious about it.

"What? Why? Why do you care if I say 'yes' or 'no' to this proposal?" She asked while still trying to free her hand from his hold.

However, her question made him leave her hand with a jerk.

It was an obvious question...and, he had no answer to it.

"I don't want you marrying him." He blurted out the truth.

It confused her further.

'Has he gone mad?' She thought.

Now that he was not here to kill her, she felt a little more confident.

"Why do you care? I am not your sister! I can marry whoever my father finds fit for me." She explained gently, as if telling a child.

"You can't marry." He stated as if it was a universal fact.

'He has gone mad. Let's just get out of here, Sneha.' She confirmed.

"Okay." She faked acceptance and took a step back to escape.

"And if I'll get to know that you said 'yes' to this proposal, trust me, I'll not be very considerate as I have been with you until now." He warned, since he could feel her faking it.

"At least tell me the reason for why I can't marry? I am a girl too...just like your sister!" She couldn't help but complain at his irrational demand.

He remained silent for a while, before he formed a reply to her question.

"I don't want Ananya to have a bad influence. And hearing about her friends getting married, she'd want it too. She is just too young now." He answered.

Sneha just stared at him with an 'are you crazy look'. It was the stupidest thing she had heard in her life.

'He is a mental case.' She confirmed.

"Now, go and tell him that you won't marry him." He ordered.

'Shashank is anyway going to say no.' She reasoned internally.

"I was anyway going to say 'no' to him. Because just like someone, he also holds the traditional patriarchal views." She said and turned around to leave.

This time he didn't stop her. He knew that her last statement was directed at him. But he cared less about what she thought of him or his views. She wasn't going to marry that man and that was what mattered to him.

Releasing a satisfied breath, he walked back to where his fiancee was sitting. Nupur gave him a questioning look.

"Is Sneha alright?" She asked while indirectly showing her disappointment.

Viraj looked at her as he sat back.

"Yes." He answered, not caring to elaborate why he went to see her in the first place.

And, as usual, she was scared of asking him any further questions. He went back to his phone again after seeing Sneha leaving the hall with that man.

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"Are you alright, Sneha?" Shashank asked in concern when she came back.

"Uhh...yes. Can we go back...home?" She asked while making sure to not look behind her. She didn't want Shashank to know that she had anything to do with Viraj. And, her mind was in a fuss after seeing his strange behaviour just now.

"Yes, sure." He immediately stood up.

"The payment?" She asked.

"I already did it." He informed.

"We should have split it." She insisted.

"Don't worry about it. If we meet next time, you may pay the bill." He assured her with a smile.

Sneha sheepishly nodded and took her phone in her hand and sling bag.

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.

"So, how did it go?" Sneha's mother bombarded the question as soon as she and her father entered the house.

"It went fine, ma!" She replied and slumped on the sofa. Soon, Priya came to the hall with a water bottle for them.

"Is he handsome?" Priya asked and sat next to her sister. Her father had gone to his room to change.

"Yesss." Sneha replied and had some water.

"Ooooo! So, is that a 'yes'?" Priya asked and her mother looked at her expectantly.

Sneha sighed. She wasn't sure of it.

"I don't know. He seemed nice and disciplined. But, he doesn't want me to work after marriage...if we get married. He is scared that it might create an imbalance in the family." She replied.

"Oh!" Priya hummed in disappointment.

"Rest all is okay, right? We can definitely compromise on this thing. You won't need to earn anyway if you get married to him. Right?" Her mother asked.

"She can do anything she wants, Sneha's mother. It's her life. Let her choose." Her father came back to the hall again while adjusting his track pants.

(Note: Generally, in the traditional Indian setup, parents do not call each other by name in front of their kids. The trend has obviously changed now, but some older people still practice it.)

Sneha widely smiled at her father. She knew he'd always support her.

"I know! I just want my daughter's future secured." Her mother added.

"He will not say 'yes' to me, mummy. Don't worry about it. Even though we had a very comfortable conversation, we differ greatly on our views over my career. He strictly wants me to be at home while I told him that I won't confine myself to home forever. So, by seeing his expression, I could easily tell that he'd not go ahead with this proposal." She explained.

Her mother sighed while her father nodded in understanding.

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Sneha sat with her parents at the dining table. They were talking about random stuff when Sneha's father's phone went off.

"Priya, bring the phone." Her father asked since the phone was in the bedroom.

Priya whined as she stood up.

"Why do I have to do all the work!" She huffed but fetched the phone quickly.

Shankar looked at the caller id and frowned as he saw the unknown number.

"Hello?" He greeted the caller.

"Hello, Shankar Ji... It's Shashank's father speaking." Replied the person from the other line.

"Oh, Rawat Ji! How are you?" Shankar asked and glanced at Sneha. Sneha looked at her father with wide eyes and a mouth full of food.

They were not expecting the call...especially this late at night.

"I am very good! My son just told me that he likes your daughter. It would be great if your daughter could give an answer too?" Shashank's father asked.

"Just a second, Rawat ji." Shankar kept the phone on hold and looked at her daughter.

"Shashank said 'yes' to the proposal." He informed his family.

"What?" Sneha almost shouted. On the other hand, her mother rejoiced the news while Priya nudged her sister suggestively.

"What is your final answer, Sneha?" Her father asked, not wanting to keep the phone on hold for long.

'Why did he say yes? I clearly told him that I want to work after marriage! Does he think I was kidding? Or does he think he can manipulate me on this issue later?' She wondered. The latter thought triggered her feminist side and she quickly framed her response. She wouldn't let anyone...husband or not...manipulate her freedom.

"No." She answered firmly and her mother sighed in disappointment.

Shankar nodded once before taking the call again.

"Rawat Ji, I am grateful that your son finds my daughter suitable for him. But, Sneha is saying no. I am so sorry for the inconvenience." Her father very politely declined.

"Uhh..." Shankar heard some shuffling on the other side, before he heard the voice again.

"Shankar Ji, would it be possible if Shashank talks to your daughter just once right now. He says he needs to clarify something the kids talked about." Mr Rawat asked.

"Uhh...Sneha, Shashank wants to talk to you." Shankar informed her daughter.

Sneha narrowed her brows but agreed.

Taking the phone in her hand, she stood up and walked towards the kitchen to get some privacy.

'What does he want to talk about?' She wondered.

"Hello?" She said on the phone.

"Hi, Sneha. I am so sorry for disturbing you this late." Came Shashank's gentle voice.

"No, no. It's okay. What is it?" She directly came to the topic.

"I heard that you said no." He stated.

"Uhh....yes. I..."

"Is it because of the job thing?" He asked.

"Yes, actually..." She didn't know what to say further.

"I...thought over what you said. And, I guess you are right. I was thinking over your suggestion and point of view the entire day. And I must say that I was thinking from a very small perspective. If you are confident in holding your responsibilities, then I should believe in you too. You are also a human and deserve a chance to explore yourself. I must not hold you back. I am not forcing you to say yes, but I can assure you that you'd have as much freedom as I have in this marriage." He explained.

Sneha got dumbstruck.

"So...you have no problem with me working after marriage?" She confirmed.

"Yes."

"And what if problems arise because if that later?" She asked.

"Then as you said in the hotel, we must try and figure out a solution instead of curbing each other's freedom." He answered.

It brought a smile automatically to her lips. He was so considerate.

"You sure, right? You won't change your mind later, right?" She verified.

Shashank chuckled.

"No, I won't. You are a nice person and I think I'll have the peace of mind that I value so much, with you. I don't want to pressurize you in any manner. So, if you want, you may give your answer later or say 'no' to me right now. I'll respect your decision." He said and she could feel him smile as he said that.

She had no idea if he was bluffing or not. But, as much as she could understand him today, she felt he was being honest.

"I'll give the phone to papa, now." She said shyly since she knew her answer now. And, it was natural for her to feel so, as her answer was going to change her life now.

"So?" Her father asked as she passed the phone to him.

"Tell them, it's a yes from my side." She said lowly while not meeting her father's gaze.